Have you ever thought about becoming a real estate agent? What are the steps involved, and where do you even start? Good news – becoming a real estate agent Is actually a simple process! If you are at least 18 years old, a resident of Tennessee, and a high school graduate (or completed your GED), you already qualify. There are a few simple steps that we will guide you through. Be sure to plan ahead for expenses, since there are courses/tests needed to obtain your license. You will want to plan for roughly 3-6 months expenses set aside so you can solely focus on getting into production. According to the Tennessean, nearly 100 people are moving to Nashville every single day. Now is the perfect chance for you to become an agent and help those who are moving to Nashville!
What are the steps?
Step 1: Real Estate Course The first step in obtaining your real estate license is to complete the 60 Hour Basic Principles of Real Estate Course. This course can be done through in-person classes or completed via online courses. There are several courses available. These courses can be found online through Tennessee’s Affiliate Broker Licensing, and there are different packages to choose from.
Step 2: 2 Part Real Estate Exam The next step is for you to take the TN Real Estate Exam and pass both the State and National portions. Passing score is considered at least 70% or higher. The first part of the exam is the real estate broker national exam and the second part is the state specific exam. To schedule your exam, visit the PSI website at www.psiexams.com. You’re allowed 150 minutes for the exam, so no need to panic!
Step 3: New Affiliate Course After you pass the exam you will need to complete the 30 Hour New Affiliate Broker Course. The good news is that there is a 97% national student pass rate between the aforementioned course and the exam. All this work may seem tedious now, but it will help you to feel confident once you begin your career.
Step 4: Find A Brokerage Before you send in your application to the TN Real Estate Commission (T.R.E.C.) to apply for your license, you’ll need to find a brokerage to affiliate with. This is your opportunity to meet with brokers and to find the best fit for you to hang your license. It’s important to determine what you are looking for out of a brokerage in terms of education, training and support. You will want to take time to find the best fit for you.
Remember, no two brokerages are the same, so make sure you explore your options. You want the brokerage to be a good fit personality-wise. Plus, you’ll want your personal and career goals to be in line with the goals of the company’s. It’s crucial in order to succeed that you place yourself amongst like minded people! Do not wasting your time and energy if you feel like you’re settling or that you just don’t mesh well.
Step 5: Submit in Your License Application Now that you’ve discovered the perfect Brokerage to partner with, you will need to submit your application to TREC. In order to submit, you will need a signature from your new Broker and proof of Errors & Omission Insurance (E&O).
Once your license is activated (success!), you will want to affiliate with a local National Association of Realtors (NAR). This is not required to practice real estate, however many brokerages do require this affiliation.
Step 6: Get Connected This is an exciting process, be sure to make the most of it. Talk to people around you, tell them that you are getting into real estate. Ask them who they know that is looking to buy or sell? Your best leads are the people who know you, trust you, and want to be in business with you.
Why Armstrong Real Estate?
We pride ourselves on being Nashville’s most innovative and service-oriented Real Estate company. Specializing in residential Real Estate in Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area, we are consistently ranked among the top 1% of residential Real Estate teams in the country. Our founder & CEO, Aaron Armstrong, believes that the success of our team “[…] is due to our commitment to serving and contributing to the lives of our clients.” This service-minded approach is at the core of our business. With 14 years in the industry, Aaron is recognized nationally for his growth-minded business and dedication to client service.
We ended 2016 with 253 homes sold totaling over $75 Million in sales. Our team provides leads, support, and training to help you start your new career. Our goal is to get agents into production as quickly as possible and provide every tool possible to help them learn the ropes. That is something you won’t always find when starting your career at other brokerages, and it’s invaluable leverage to rapid growth in your career.
